WESTERN BIRDS ^'^"^ 



GENUS THRYOMANES : VIGOR'S 

 WREN. 



Vigor's Wren: Thryomanes bewicki spilurus. 

 FAMILY— WRENS. 



The friendly Bewick's Wren of the east is not found 

 on the western coast but it has six subspecies that closely 

 resemble it. The Vigor's Wren occupies the coast region 

 of middle California, from Sonoma County to Monterey. 

 A similar bird which is also spoken of as Vigor's but 

 which is listed as the San Diego, or Southwest Bewick, 

 is found in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys and 

 adjacent foothills; north to Shasta County, and in the 

 coast region of southern California, south, and on Santa 

 Catalina Island. These birds are about five and one- 

 half inches long and the upper parts are a dark brown, a 

 white line over the eye being a conspicuous marking. 

 The middle tail feathers are slightly lighter than the 

 back, and are barred with darker; the outer tail feathers 

 are blackish and are striped and barred; the under parts 

 are gray with flanks and sides tinged with brown. The 

 San Diego Wren differs from the other form chiefly in 

 having the outside tail feathers tipped with gray, the 

 outer web barred with dingy white, and the under tail 

 coverts heavily barred with black. It is, however, only 

 the scientific student who will care to differentiate the 

 two birds. 



In the southern part of the State these Wrens are 

 common residents of the foothill oak regions and brushy 

 mountain sides up to about 6,000 feet. During the 

 winter months they come down into the lower country in 

 the canyons, and wherever there is low cover. They are 

 oftentimes as friendly as the House Wrens, coming into 

 the gardens that border their chosen haunts, and nesting 



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